Buildings are under construction at then-new Barksdale Field in this aerial photo taken in the early 1930s.

Written by

John Andrew Prime
jprime@shreveporttimes.com

Barksdale Air Force Base Friday will observe the start of its 80th year, which officially begins Saturday.

The occasion will take place in a rather humble form, with a simple cake-cutting ceremony at 4:30 p.m. at Patrick Hall, also called the Barksdale Club, in the old officers club just inside the North Gate. It will feature as speaker 2nd Bomb Wing commander Col. Andrew Gebara, with the cake to be cut by the base's oldest airman, retired Col. Steve dePyssler, and its youngest member, Airman 1st Class Ezekiel Racelis.